Banknote motif with a girl's head derived from Leonardo da Vinci against a patterned band
Medium
Engraving and etching; proof
Dimensions
sheet: 3 1/4 x 1 1/4 in. (8.2 x 3.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph Veach Noble, 2002
Accession Number
2002.333.24
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate engraving proof, titled *Banknote motif with a girl's head derived from Leonardo da Vinci against a patterned band*, showcases the precision of early American printmaking. Created around 1824–37 by Asher Brown Durand and collaborators—including his brother Cyrus Durand and firms like A. B. & C. Durand & Company and Durand, Perkins, and Company—it measures just 3¼ × 1¼ inches, perfect for currency design. The central motif adapts a girl's head from Leonardo da Vinci's Renaissance studies, framed by an intricate patterned band, blending Old Master inspiration with practical innovat...
About the Artist
Asher Brown Durand|A. B. & C. Durand & Company|Durand, Perkins, and Company|Cyrus Durand|Leonardo da Vinci · 1796–1886
Was a principal member of the Hudson River School. American artist; associated with the Hudson River School of landscape painting. Comment on works: Portraits